§ MR. T. J. MILLERsaid, that he wished to make an explanation in reference to a statement made by the hon. Member for Roscommon (The O'Conor Don) in reference to the attendance of the Roman Catholic priest upon the prisoners of his faith in the Westminster Prison. The hon. Member stated that the priest was only allowed to visit the prisoners for two hours a day; but he (Mr. Miller) had received the following memorandum from the visiting Justices:—
House of Correction at Westminster.—On the 19th of May, 1866, the Rev. John Wynne was approved by the visiting justices for visiting the Roman Catholic prisoners in this prison, and he was requested to arrange with the matron the times when it would be proper for him to attend the prisoners, having reference to his convenience and the general discipline of the prison. He accordingly made his own arrangement with the matron, and he has since attended at the prison whenever he wished, on an average four hours daily, Sundays excepted. With reference to the O'Conor Don's statement in the House of Commons on the 25th instant, as reported on the 26th, and to his letter of the 27th, that 'in the prison at Westminster the Protestant Scripture Reader not only circulated his books among members of his own religious persuasion, but among the Roman Catholic prisoners as well,' it is only necessary to observe that there has never been a Scripture Reader at that prison.—July 30, 1866.He trusted that this explanation would be satisfactory to the hon. Member for Roscommon.